Eyewitnesses

Text:

acts 10

Acts 10:34–43 HCSB

Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

Sub: Eyewitnesses

Intro:

There are at least two reasons for which eyewitness testimony is important to investigators.  One has to do with the process of investigation while the other has to do with winning the case in court.

In this speech (10:39, 41), as in three other speeches (2:32; 3:15; 5:32), Peter testifies that there are witnesses to the events he describes (see also 1:22; 13:31). The testimony of the eyewitnesses was important to the Christians in the first century and is so for all generations. This is because Christianity is based on events surrounding Christ’s sojourn on earth. Though we ourselves have not seen the risen Christ with our own eyes, our faith rests on the fact that he did rise from the dead and that a host of reliable witnesses attested this fact.

In this speech (10:39, 41), as in three other speeches (2:32; 3:15; 5:32), Peter testifies that there are witnesses to the events he describes (see also 1:22; 13:31). The testimony of the eyewitnesses was important to the Christians in the first century and is so for all generations. This is because Christianity is based on events surrounding Christ’s sojourn on earth. Though we ourselves have not seen the risen Christ with our own eyes, our faith rests on the fact that he did rise from the dead and that a host of reliable witnesses attested this fact.

he case in court.In this speech (10:39, 41), as in three other speeches (2:32; 3:15; 5:32), Peter testifies that there are witnesses to the events he describes (see also 1:22; 13:31). The testimony of the eyewitnesses was important to the Christians in the first century and is so for all generations. This is because Christianity is based on events surrounding Christ’s sojourn on earth. Though we ourselves have not seen the risen Christ with our own eyes, our faith rests on the fact that he did rise from the dead and that a host of reliable witnesses attested this fact.

I. GREAT POWER

"God raised up the third day," v. 40a

Peter’s reference to eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after his death and resurrection is longer than his reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter’s was careful to the argue the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection.

Peter’s reference to eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after his death and resurrection is longer than his reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection, Peter’s was careful to the argue the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection.

While Jews (with the exception of the Sadducees) believed in the bodily resurrection of the dead, Greeks and Romans did not.

Peter emphasized, that It was God who caused Jesus to be seen after his crucifixion, as it was God who had raised Jesus from the dead.

*God raised up Christ. God knew that the very best way to save man from death was through the resurrection of His own Son from the dead

Acts 2:24 HCSB

God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

acts

The resurrection of Christ "loosed the pains of death." The word "pains" (ōdinas PWS: 2824) means birth pangs. For the unbeliever, there is great pain in death, pain such as that experienced by a woman in giving birth after pain comes new life. But man no longer has to suffer the pain of death nor fear suffering through it. Christ has conquered and abolished death, made it completely harmless. Death is actually the most glorious and joyful experience for the believer.

*It was impossible for death to hold Christ.

Why?

There was God's foreknowledge and determinate counsel. God knew that the way of the cross and resurrection was the very best way to save the world. Therefore, nothing could stop God from following through with the death and resurrection of His Son. ILL.

Last week I was watching "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe"

In the motion picture, "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", King Aslan the Lion has been brutally killed by the White Witch. Leaving his body on the stone table, the witch goes out to war with the followers of Aslan. Lucy and Susan are dejectedly mourning the loss of the great king. Turning to walk away, the ground shakes and they hear the sound of stone cracking. The girls turn and see Aslan's body is gone. Wondering what has happened, the girls are amazed as Aslan appears at the top of the hill, with the morning sun rising behind him. Susan and Lucy run to him, but can't believe what they are seeing. Susan asks, "But we saw the knife..." Her question is cut short by Aslan's response. He explains the Evil Witch did not understand the true meaning of sacrifice. Aslan proclaims, "When a willing victim who has committed no treachery is killed in a traitor's stead, the stone table will crack and even death itself will turn backwards." —"The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", Scene 20 Aslan's Resurrection 1:52:38—1:54:50. (GW) "Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God's approval."

II. GREAT PROOF

"Shewed Him openly... unto witnesses," v. 40b

God showed Jesus openly (emphanē genesthai PWS: 3544), which means that God set Jesus before people so that He could be visibly, openly, and publicly seen.

Jesus was “seen” (ἐμφανῆ): people could see him after he had come back from the dead. The risen Jesus was seen not by all Jews in Jerusalem and in Judea or Galilee, but only by those whom God had appointed as witnesses before these events transpired—not only the eleven apostles but other followers of Jesus as well (; cf. ) who were granted, by God’s providence, an encounter with Jesus in which they saw him.

Jesus appeared at least ten times after His resurrection before He ascended into heaven. There were apparently many more appearances not recorded (cp. ; ).

1. He appeared to Mary Magdalene (; ).

2. He appeared to the women running to tell the disciples about the empty tomb ().

3. He appeared to Peter, probably to assure him of his restoration (; ).

4. He appeared to the two Emmaus disciples sometime in the early evening (; ).

5. He appeared to the disciples with Thomas absent (; ; ).

6. One week later, He appeared to the disciples who had gone fishing ().

7. He appeared to 500 believers ().

8. He appeared to the apostles (; ).

9. He appeared to James, the Lord's half-brother ().

10. He appeared to the believers at His ascension (; ; ).

It should be remembered that since Jesus' ascension He has appeared at least two other times.

1. He appeared to Stephen at his martyrdom ().

2. He appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus ().

III. GREAT PRIVILEGE

 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. v.41

Acts: Expanded Digital Edition Explanation of the Text

The risen Jesus was seen not by all Jews in Jerusalem and in Judea or Galilee, but only by those whom God had appointed as witnesses before these events transpired—not only the eleven apostles but other followers of Jesus as well (Luke 24:33; cf. 1 Cor 15:5–9) who were granted, by God’s providence, an encounter with Jesus in which they saw him.

Acts: Expanded Digital Edition Explanation of the Text

The risen Jesus was seen not by all Jews in Jerusalem and in Judea or Galilee, but only by those whom God had appointed as witnesses before these events transpired—not only the eleven apostles but other followers of Jesus as well (Luke 24:33; cf. 1 Cor 15:5–9) who were granted, by God’s providence, an encounter with Jesus in which they saw him.

Jesus appeared to chosen witnesses. The word "chosen before" (prokecheirotonēmenois PWS: 580) means to be pointed out, to be designated, to be appointed (cp. ). Before Christ ever arose, God chose some people to be witnesses of His Son's resurrection. They were chosen for the very purpose of proclaiming the resurrection to a world of dying men.

The encounters of witnesses who saw Jesus after his return from the dead involved meals at which they ate with him (συνεφάγομεν) and drank with him (συνεπίομεν αὐτῷ). The reference to meals that Peter and others shared with Jesus after his crucifixion and resurrection refers to (the Emmaus disciples), (the eleven disciples and their companions) and similar events (cf. ), and underlines the physical nature of Jesus’ resurrection.

The witnesses did "eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead." They had close and intimate fellowship with Him. (Cp. .) Peter said this for two reasons.

1. To stress that he and the other witnesses had real contact with the risen Lord. They not only saw Him, they "ate and drank," communed and fellowshipped with Him. They were as closely associated with Him as persons can be. They were true, verifiable witnesses.

2. To stress that Jesus actually arose from the dead. The Person they saw was the Jesus whom they knew. His body was real. It was really Him; His body had been resurrected.

, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Acts, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "D. A World-Wide Ministry--In Caesarea (Part II): Preaching Peace, 10:34-43".

Schnabel, Eckhard J. Acts. Expanded Digital Edition. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

Fernando, Ajith. Acts. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.

Jim Wilson, “RESURRECTION,” in More Fresh Illustrations, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2008), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "RESURRECTION".